“Analysis | As Iran Marks One Year to General’s Killing, the Mideast Is Riddled With Warning Signs,” Amos Harel, op-ed, Haaretz, January 1, 2021.
Heed the warning from former hostage and Princeton scholar Xiyue Wang. “Former Iran hostage on life after release and diplomacy with Iran,” CBS News, January 1, 2021. “The Ministry of Intelligence interrogator told me clearly that they need me as a spy to convict me so that they can do a deal with the United States,” he said. “You’re not the first American and you can be assured that you’re not the last American to be in Iranian jail,” the interrogator said, according to Xiyue. … “Xiyue is urging Mr. Biden to make the release of Americans held hostage his first priority. “Without their return: no deal with Iran,” he said.” That should be the words of every communication regarding Iran, from government or private communications. But already the incoming Biden administration is not doing this.
“Iran tells IAEA it plans to enrich uranium to up to 20% at Fordow site,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, January 1, 2021. ““Iran has informed the Agency that in order to comply with a legal act recently passed by the country’s parliament, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran intends to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) up to 20 percent at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant,” the IAEA said in a statement.”
“Bahrain Accuses Future Bank, Iranian Banks of Money Laundering,” Asharq Al-Awsat, January 1, 2021.
“Crackdown on smuggling of Iranian fuel criticized,” Dawn, January 1, 2021.
“How an anti-elite TV drama became Iran’s lockdown hit,” Holly Dagres, Guardian, January 1, 2021.
“Poster of Iran’s Soleimani sparks controversy in Gaza Strip,” Hazem Balousha, Arab News, January 1, 2021. Vandalized, torn down, arrested. Despite Hamas’ praise of Soleimani, “Palestinians and Arabs view Soleimani as a war criminal, involved in massacres against Syrian and Iraqi civilians through his direct intervention in military operations in both countries.”
Yazdi is dead. A major player in the 1979 Revolution, hardliner, anti-U.S., biased against Jews, against the press and Iranian citizens, mentor to Ahmadinejad, and influential member of the Assembly of Experts. “Iranian conservative cleric dies, according to state-run media,” Sugam Pokharel, CNN, January 1, 2021.